Beto O'Rourke: “Those who have truly borne the cost of the wars that we have waged since 9/11 have been the men and women who wear the…”

“Those who have truly borne the cost of the wars that we have waged since 9/11 have been the men and women who wear the uniform and their families--fewer than 1 percent of the people in this country. For the rest of us, we have deferred our obligations and our payments to future generations. Harvard's Linda Bilmes estimates that the wars that we are waging since 9/11 will cost this country nearly $1 trillion in healthcare costs and support costs for the veterans who have fought those wars. That is why I am asking my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to join me in sponsoring the Veterans Health Care Trust Fund Act, which would create a surtax on each and every American who has not served to ensure that we pay for our wars as we wage them and have the resources to take care of the veterans who fight them. It is going to ensure transparency in the cost of these wars; it is going to ensure that everyone bears their fair share of the burden; and it is going to ensure that we always have the resources to always take care of the veterans. Mr. Speaker, I ask that everyone join me in this important effort. ____________________”